Fewer than half of all workers say they are satisfied with their jobs, according to an annual report released by the Conference Board. Among the reasons many say they don’t like their jobs: lower than desired wages, promotion policies and a mediocre or no bonus plan.

That dissatisfaction may explain why 76% of full-time employed workers are either actively looking for, or are open to, new job opportunities, according to a survey of 4,505 workers released this week by career site CareerBuilder.com.

Some of the reasons workers aren’t getting that new job they want are obvious: they aren’t qualified for the position, their résumé isn’t up to snuff or they don’t interview well. But workers may be sabotaging themselves in ways they don’t realize. Here are five.

You’re too patient

People who wait to be contacted about the next steps after they interview for a job may be making a mistake, says Rebecca Barnes-Hogg, the co-author of “Rethinking Human Resources.” “A well-crafted thank you note and continued follow-up demonstrating your interest and excitement about the position is key,” says Barnes-Hogg, who is the founder and chief insight officer for job hiring firm Yolo Insights. “I recently had two highly qualified candidates for a client. The candidate who stayed in touch through email and phone calls and demonstrated her continued interest in the company and being a key member of the team got the job.”

What’s more, you need to make sure that follow-up clearly shows that you “understand the needs, issues and challenges facing the hiring manager” and are prepared to work hard and get the job done, says New York-based career coach Roy Cohen.

You put too much focus on where you went to college

An Ivy League degree is undoubtedly impressive, but many hiring managers think other things are more important, according to a survey released this week from job site Indeed.com. Fewer than one in three managers agreed that top performers mostly come from top schools, and many say that skills like experience, past performance and how you handle yourself in the workplace are more important.

You believe hearing ‘no’ means the door is closed

A CareerBuilder survey of more than 1,500 hiring decision makers released this week came to a surprising conclusion: “Candidates shouldn’t take no as the final word.” Indeed, more than half of employers say they want to re-engage with past candidates, which means that “candidates should stay in touch even if they don’t get a job offer the first time,” the report concluded.

To do this, first send the hiring manager a LinkedIn invitation, says Cohen. “If they accept, which they most likely will do, send a note to thank them again for the opportunity to interview,” he says — adding that “you enjoyed getting to know the company and them” and asking if it’s OK to “stay in touch should an opportunity become available either in their group or elsewhere in the company.”

You think a résumé is enough

More than half of employers (53%) say a résumé doesn’t provide enough information for them to accurately judge a candidate, according to the CareerBuilder survey. “Recruiters expect a cover letter, professional portfolio where applicable, recommendations and links to social media profiles,” the study revealed.

You’re not highlighting your ‘soft skills’

Sure, your resume is loaded with your career successes like hitting sales goals or winning awards — and you focus on those big-time in the interview process — but that may not be enough. The CareerBuilder survey found that 63% of employers said one of the top questions they’re trying to answer when looking for candidates is what their soft skills are. “Be sure to highlight these less tangible skills associated with personality such as having a positive attitude, being dependable and working well under pressure,” the report revealed.

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